Model year guide

2008 Saturn Astra

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2008 Saturn Astra is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 64 on record.

2008 Saturn Astra at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints162
Combined27 mpg
Typical price$3,957

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2008 Saturn Astra recalls 1

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #16V063000 · manufacturer #28810 and 28811 · 03/02/2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2008 Saturn Astra common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 162 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

2008 Saturn Astra MPG & running costs

Combined27 mpg
City24 mpg
Highway31 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,500
EPA size classCompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$500 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2008 Saturn Astra worth?

Low
$2,200
Typical price
$3,957
High
$5,800

From 61 comparable 2008 Saturn Astra listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2008 Saturn Astra costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$12,500
Fuel only$12,500
Per mile$0.17

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
170.5 in
Width
68.9 in
Height
55.9–57.5 in
Wheelbase
102.8 in
Curb weight
2,833–2,921 lb
Front track
58.3 in
Rear track
57.9–58.3 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2008 Saturn Astra — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture Open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deploymen…

NHTSA #EA21002 · Air Bags · opened Sep 2021

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 793

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 793.

New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH

Bulletin 13598 · Sep 2025

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060,…

Bulletin PIC5650M · Aug 2025

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

Bulletin PIP5601C · Jul 2025

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

Bulletin PIT5074R · May 2025

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

Bulletin PIT5074R · May 2025

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

Bulletin PIT5074R · May 2025

This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline detergent additive.

Bulletin 04-06-04-051J · Engine · Sep 2024

This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be accompanied by a clunk noise. This is a slight movement that is more often seen visu…

Bulletin 08-07-30-026I · Power Train · Sep 2024

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on When and How to Submit a Field Product Report (FPR) (U.S. and Canada Dealers Only).

Bulletin 02-00-89-002X · Sep 2024

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in que…

Bulletin PIT3271P · Sep 2024

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the ASTRA FWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2008 Saturn Astra. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Airbag

On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inflator to rupture, which could allow fragments to be propelled toward vehicle occupants, increasing the risk of injury. This could also damage the airbag module, which could prevent proper deployment. Failure of the airba…

Transport Canada #2016052 · Feb 2016

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Saturn Astra

The Opel Astra is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) developed and produced by the German automaker Opel since 1991, currently at its sixth generation. It was first launched in September 1991 as a direct replacement to the Opel Kadett. As of 2025, the car slots between the smaller Corsa supermini and the larger Frontera subcompact crossover SUV.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2008 Saturn Astra trims & engines on record

Trims
XR · XE
Engines
3.9L 6-cyl

2008 Saturn Astra vehicles on record

2008 Saturn Astra XEW08AR671385080672 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XEW08AR671885035520 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XEW08AR671685117052 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT671985124482 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XEW08AR671085111621 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XEW08AR671X85098330 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XEW08AR671085037262 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT271385067432 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT271085094099 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT271485077919 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT671X85064681 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT271285067843 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT271985128654 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XEW08AR671585139026 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT271785093998 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT271585095703 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XEW08AR671385083734 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XEW08AR671185094277 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XEW08AR671885119708 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT671285090711 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT671085104573 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT271785086050 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XEW08AR671285079769 2008 Saturn Astra 2008 Saturn Astra XRW08AT671785084242

Other Saturn Astra model years

2009 2007

2008 Saturn Astra — frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Saturn Astra have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Saturn Astra. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Saturn Astra?

Across all 162 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, electrical system, power train.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Saturn Astra get?

The 2008 Saturn Astra has a U.S. EPA estimate of 27 mpg combined (24 city / 31 highway).

How much is a 2008 Saturn Astra worth?

Comparable 2008 Saturn Astra listings run roughly $2,200–$5,800, typically around $3,957 (from 61 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.